Young People's Chorus of New York City Named Artists-in-Residence of European Festival of Youth Choruses

At the invitation of the European Festival of Youth Choruses in Basel, Switzerland, Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) and Artistic Director/Founder Francisco J. Núñez have been invited as the artists-in-residence of the festival, which takes place from May 28 to June 1. YPC is the first American choir in two decades invited to take part in this festival, which includes 18 other choirs of young men and women from Switzerland, Estonia, Iceland, Israel, Spain, Armenia, Germany, Ireland, and Russia.

Over the years, the festival, established in 1992, has become one of Europe's most important gatherings of youth choirs of the highest artistic quality, drawing audiences of almost 23,000 people.

At the festival YPC will sing individually and in combination with other festival choirs in nine concerts held in a variety of venues throughout the city beginning with the opening ceremony on May 28 at the Stadt-Casino Basel, the most famous concert hall in the city.

When the festival's artistic director first heard YPC's young male singers at the Polyfollia international choral showcase in Normandy, France, she was so taken with their unique style and high level of musical expression, she was inspired to create a festival within a festival at the 2014 European Festival of Youth Choruses called "Singing Boys" to promote boy choirs and encourage them to explore new ways of presenting music.

The mini-festival will include a workshop on the subject of "Singing Boys" at the Musik-Akademie on May 30 led by Francisco Núñez and featuring YPC's young men. Afterwards, the young men will headline a concert in the Martinkirche, in which they will sing a program of music ranging from classical, folk, and gospel to the world premiere of Camina Toma written especially for this occasion by Mr. Núñez. Joining YPC's young men will be three other young male choirs: the Estonian National Opera Boys Choir, the Knabenkantorei Basel, and the Choristers of Jesus College from Cambridge, England.

For this tour the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation is generously contributing a touring wardrobe for each of YPC's young men and women traveling to Switzerland. Each of the 41 choristers is thrilled to be representing the United States in this high quality, iconic American clothing.

The Young People's Chorus of New York City, founded by Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez on a mission of diversity and artistic excellence in 1988, is invited to perform on four continents. For 26 years this groundbreaking program has harnessed the power of music to fulfill the potential of children from any cultural or economic background, while dramatically heightening an awareness of the unlimited potential of young people to rise to unforeseen levels of artistry. Each year almost 1,400 children ages 7 to 18 benefit musically, academically, and socially through YPC's after-school and in-school programs. YPC is in residence at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center and has been recognized with America's highest honor for youth programs, a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. www.ypc.org